Karene Peters is to leave her role as Naomi Walters on Emmerdale after just one year, it has emerged.

The character was brought in last summer as the estranged daughter of village vicar Charles (Kevin Mathurin) and sister of Ethan (Emile John).

Since then she has been involved in a number of major storylines, including the mugging of Nicola (Nicola Wheeler), deception by bad boy Alex (Liam Boyle) and a failed relationship with Nate (Jurell Carter).

According to The Sun, Peters has now decided to leave the soap and will film her exit in the coming weeks for broadcast over the summer.

"Karene's loved her time on the soap but it is time for her to go," a source told the newspaper.

"Being on Emmerdale was a dream but she became an actor to play different roles and that's exactly what she wants to do.

"The door isn't being closed on Naomi so she could always make a return down the line."

News of Peters's departure comes a day after it was revealed that Flo Wilson has joined the soap as Claudette, the no-nonsense mother of Charles and grandmother of Naomi and Ethan.